RESOURCES OF THE WEST COAST.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 June 1923, Page 4

RESOURCES OF THE WEST COAST.

A LAND OF PROMISE. i POTEXTIAD WHAI.TIT of kink DISTRICT. (Lyttelton Times). The war gave the timber industry iu Westland a distinct set-back. The volume of shipping available was reduced and the men enlisted so that the miller’s output fell rapidly. In |!)| 1 the timber exported from flrevmouth totalled 5-1.000,000 super feet. In 1011 it exceeded 50.000.000. but then canto the drop and Westland has not yet reached its pre-war standard, lint the figures are gaining steadily. Last year they totalled 48,80-1 .OUT super feet, a figure suflieiently large to make Greymouth one of. if not the largest timber ports in the Dominion. Of last year’s output shipped 37 per cent, went to Lyttelton. A local resident who lias been engaged in the timber industry for many years toTd me that he booked the first order from Canterbury in 1892. and helped to load the timber on the Alert. The price was fi.s Cd per 100 super feet. In those days Canterbury drew its supplies from Oxford. Those competent to express an opinion say that, in the course of a few years the Dominion will draw most ol its building timber from the West Coast. When asked about the timber resources of the provinee a leading miller said that he doubted if even the authorities had a reliable idea of the amount of milling timber available. It was largely a matter of conjecture. There was a, lot in the Grey Valley ami the Aha lira, or on the watershed, lied pine grow on the hills and white pine on the lower levels. There was plenty of birch, useful for bridge decking and similar purposes. Asked how the opening of tho Otira- tunnel would alfeet lhe industry he replied that, for one thing, the cheaper lines of timber suitaide for outbuildings, or the many rei|uiremcnts of the farmer, would be cheaper. Much timber that now went up in smoko, or simply rotted, would lie used. Fur instance silver pine poles were the best in tin- world, but the present charges and freight made it useless to shin them. These and other lines would pay a relatively low rate on the railway and the farmers would lon clip Vsually it oust more in freight and charges limn the value of these lit.,-, f.ii.ti. .Much of the white pine w,nl from < frcymmilh to Brisbane. Sydney. .Melbourne, ami a- ia.r a: Berth. Tin* red pine supply for export fr--in Cue 'Dominion was limited and the annual reduttiun in export permits infant the i losing down of that branch in lour or live years. The timber industry teas now beginning to feel the bt lielit of th" reripr.ual tarilf with Australia. Before it came into force Bailie and Buy l Sound, timber were the strongest opponents of Xew Zealand millers and there Wore heavy stock.- in

the CtimmouwcalTh. However, thes ■ storks were being worked ntf and the IP,mini,in was I.emTiling through the removal of tho 7s duty on its timber, i!" estimated that- the timber on the West Coast would last seventy years. The days of cheap timber were over. Working expenses wore very high and there was no prospect of any teduttiou. for the linns bad to go further ami I nr; licr back for timber. The mountain timber, however, was ( ,t a beltet class. The dema-ml for good timber exceeded the supply: the difi'n u’b'/ lay in t|uiuiug O.l’. hues. The Gnvernment must revise its reipiirements regarding housing speeillcations or the housing dilfietiliy would never he over-t-time. I*or the houses at Otira. lot instance, the Government luid stipulated totara. matai. or heart t*f red pine. Ihe timber i mild not be obtained ami the specifications wore revised. I’everting t« the ell cot ol the working „f the Otira tunnel my inlormant stated that lie was sure the shipping companies would reduce 1 ireighl rates in order to meet lhe opposition. He. estimated that whereas it now cost 7- 8-d per -limit. to put. the timber iu aChristchurch yard, the rail charges would firing that figure tl evil In Is od. The ddferenc" on freights to Sydney and in Lyttelton wa- only B-d per 190 feel. As a result of through eommnnicaticn the consumers in mid-( cuicrburv should get timber Is or o- otieapTt is hoped that the proposal to ds-i.-clep tiie paper making industry on ike West Coast will materialise. It would i.-'iubi*. l luimi.'fi-o ts ol luhlkt non* burned la be turned to account. 1 luard of one large firm that bad undertaken to supply 121 K> tons annually, most I*.- tlie wastage at the mill-. Tho outlook before the timber industry is bright although tlu-re is need for t xpcrieueetl men fur the skilled brum-lie-. of the industry. The bulk ol the leases held one under the Mining Act ami when the time comes to upon up areas held by Hie F'-orc.-ti y Department the millers will bare to pay bigli-

j or royalties. Tin' l>li!iii Hni >) now. 1 understand. lire Is (lil lor red p:no and •is for white piii«-. in increase i-ntiun._c Jup in If:;) per <l' 11 1 . r-n Mimi'i charges, j mill another thing tending in m;>• limber more iloum’. However the mil!--i ■ t*s —anil thorp lire mills repre-cuted in the (irey-Hokitikn Asset-intion re<ogiiise tlmt. the department must be run mi 1 1< 1 sillcs:s hues anil. appnrenilv, the Corel niiienl's officials recognise ilmi they must retain the goodwill u! the men in the timher industry. Askeil if the Otira tunnel completion ivould fnviuirnhl.v affect the coni industry of the district, the heal manager of ... , om; any said that it mii~i. it might take a. liltle time lor the pre--ciit r; serves of Newcastle mid othei reel to he worked oli’. hut when mice tl.ev were ele -red r. d from the Crty ; district should fill the roipiireui'liis. I lire!! milage v.a 111 1 1 1 do away with the fre.'|itmii handling of the output nud the ennr.nmer world 1.-oneht he get iron: cord in murk hotter condition. (VoI railed would lie vII worth ;>< a ton. more limn teal. carried round !>y The three seel inn freight, on I lie route \in (Him might luimper the development of the land-horne truffle, hut hies timr. fed that, when the I’ailwny Department Look over the tunnel section and gave a through rate it would bring, i|,e charges for .delivery in Canterbury down Os nr 7s per ton. A brief studv of a map will show that that the opening of the' Otira. line lor through traffic must plate the Drey mines in a very favourable position. At present their shipments to ('•interim rv travel about 00 miles I'm tiler | than those from Westport. When they j cim rail their coal across they will do away with loading and unloading of the ; wharves and the railage from the ( anterbury port to destination. This he’d ill not lie dependent, solely on • <y-i borne traffic. The 'Trey field will he in direct communication with the markets cast of the mountains and that v-ill ; irive it- facilities not onjovod by the fields further south. And the local j mines can increase their output' to meet 1 , the demand when it comes.